Every day you will come into contact with the business world, for example, when buying your lunch or working part-time. Business Studies will help you understand this world by looking at how businesses are created, develop, grow, survive crises and perhaps eventually decline. It focuses on people whose skills affect this process and uses theory to analyse the cause and effects of different management approaches

This course will appeal to students wishing to study how business works in depth and provides the opportunity to gain understanding of key strategies which enable companies to succeed.

Through taught topics and submitted assignments, learners gain an insight into marketing, finance, human resources and entrepreneurial skills and are encouraged to apply their knowledge when examining a wide range of current case studies.

6 GCSE passes at (grade 5) or above, including Maths and English.

The course allows access to a range of Business based university courses and is appropriate preparation for level 4 Apprenticeships.

100% examination. Three papers, each of 2 hours, including a case study.

• What is business?
• Managers, leadership and decision making
• Improving market performance
• Optimising operational performance
• Improving finance performance
• Management of human resources
• Analysing the strategic position of a business
• Strategic direction
• Change management

You will need a file to keep notes and a memory stick to keep copies of your work electronically.

During the first year students are introduced to different aspects of business and are also shown the best way of learning:

• Low level homework – leading to engaging activity based lessonsComprehensive note taking – improve fundamental understanding & building future revision materials
• Current case studies – applying learnt theory to businesses in the news
• Class based discussion – students are encouraged to challenge preconceptions in business and offer alternative viewpoints